Frederick A. Clough III, Robert E. Larson, Michael E. Damis and Russel L. Welk.
Those are the names of four veterans whose remains were left unclaimed in Lewis County after their deaths.
Clough served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. Damis served as a machinery repairman 3rd class, Larson served as a seaman apprentice and Welk served as a seaman, all in the U.S. Navy.
On Friday, Nov. 10, the four veterans were laid to rest with full military honors at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent. Before their burial, approximately 60 vehicles joined in a funeral procession starting at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis and leading up to the cemetery.
Among those in the procession included Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod and his staff, the Lewis County commissioners, members of local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars chapters, the Lewis County Jeepers club, and a Patriot Guard rider.
Once at the cemetery, the veterans’ burial ceremony was carried out by U.S. airmen and sailors from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Tahoma National Cemetery volunteers and bugle corps, and the American Legion Post 99 honor guard out of Bellevue and Kirkland.
The Washington state Department of Corrections honor guard from the Monroe Correctional Complex performed the 21-gun salute.
American Legion Post 99 Commander Rob Huntsinger delivered a eulogy for Clough, Damis, Larson and Welk.
“Because of veterans like them, our lives are free, our nation lives, and the principles of freedom, justice and democracy survive as they have for over 240 years … When our country called, Frederick, Michael, Robert and Russel did not shirk their responsibilities,” Huntsinger said.
Since no family members claimed the veterans’ remains, McLeod, along with coroner’s office staff members Malynda Wilson and Chief Deputy Coroner Stephen Wilson, accepted the flags. Additionally, Benny’s Florist in Chehalis donated a flower wreath for the veterans, and eCare Mortuary donated urns for their remains.
Those wishing to visit the graves of Clough, Damis, Larson and Welk can find them in the Tahoma National Cemetery’s Columbarium 5I on Young Memorial Drive, row 220. The cemetery is located at 18600 SE 240th St., Kent.
Established in 1993 and opened for interments in 1997, the Tahoma National Cemetery is now the final resting place of more than 60,000 U.S. military service members, veterans and their spouses and children, according to Tahoma National Cemetery volunteers.
For more information, visit https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/tahoma.asp.
